Expert-driven, technology-facilitated intervention system for improving interpersonal relationships

Abstract

A method for promoting interpersonal interactions includes a step of receiving data streams from a plurality of mobile smart devices from a plurality of users, the data streams recording information about users' daily lives. Intervention signals are sent to a user in response to data acquired from two or more individuals and interpreted with respect to user internal states, moods, emotions, predetermined behaviors, and interactions with other users.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving data streams from a plurality of mobile smart devices in the possession of a plurality of users, the data streams recording information about users' daily lives; and   sending intervention signals to a user in response to data acquired from two or more individuals and interpreted with respect to user internal states, moods, emotions, predetermined behaviors, and interactions with other users.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the intervention signals are determined by algorithmic signal processing and/or machine learning solutions such that the intervention signals are responsive, interactive, and adaptive to the users. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising incorporating human expert knowledge into a determination of the intervention signals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein human expert knowledge is integrated and includes prompts sent at random intervals and/or according to specific time schedules. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein reminders designed to help users reach their daily goals are sent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the reminders include as spending a certain amount of time together, achieving a certain ratio of positive to negative interactions, or having a certain amount of physical contact. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending of interventions triggered by algorithms that automatically detect and predict moods and events to send prompts to oneself or to other users in a social network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein moods and events include risky behaviors, extreme emotions, and/or negative moods. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the prompts include warning people that conflict or other events are likely to occur, prompting people to engage in relaxation exercises, take a break, give a compliment, or to do something nice for someone else. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the interventions also include sending prompts after events of interest have occurred. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the prompts instruct users to reflect on an occurrence of an event, engage in relationship building activities, initiate positive contact, or discuss a topic together. 
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 1  further comprises providing feedback to the users to encourage beneficial aspects of interpersonal relationships. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein expert-knowledge is applied with personal and interpersonal information captured from human monitoring systems integrated through signal processing, data-scientific, and machine learning solutions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a human state is recognized, understood, and predicted and actionable feedback is provided to improve it in relation to corresponding relationship functioning. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein measurable indices of individual and interpersonal behavior consisting of input for closed-loop systems that automatically provide suggestions towards a desired state. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein heuristic, machine-learning, or control-theoretical approaches are applied and are automatically trained/tuned/perturbed towards optimizing a desired criterion to minimize conflict and maximize positive interactions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a model is constructed for interpersonal dynamics that occur when a set of individuals linked through a relationship interact with each other and with their environment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising learning each user's patterns over time so that accuracy and effectiveness of interventions increase with use. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising investigating an impact of each prompt and intervention on individual and interpersonal functioning and providing feedback about which interventions are most helpful population-wide and which are better for specific users or groups of users. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein intervention schemes are performed quantitatively through signal- and data-derived measures indicative of individual characteristics and relationship functioning concepts. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled)